Export observing lists

[ultradianguy]

Hi - I think this question has to have been asked before, but after 20 min of searching, I couldn't find it, so sorry if I missed previous threads. 
Been a very long time ST user and still love it on my PC, but I don't always have my PC when I'm observing and am starting to use Sky Safari on phone or iPad, including to control the scope, for times when I don't want to go to the trouble of setting up a place to put the PC, not to mention having sufficient power to keep it going. 

I've seen mentions on the web that Sky Tools can export observing lists in a format Sky Safari can recognize, but I cannot find any where in the software (or in the Help) to do this.  I saw the discussion where Greg said he doesn't plan to support the open astronomy log, which is disappointing.  But regardless, my primary interest is being able to export a list of objects for viewing and import into skysafari.

So can this be done?  The post I saw seemed very clear that there was a way to do this. 

As ST remains my central DB, it would also be really great to be able to log things in field in Sky Safari and bring those logs back into ST - but right now Observing lists are higher priority. 

Two-way sync of everything of course would be wonderful - but second choice would be lists from ST to SS, and then logs back from SS to ST. 

Thanks,
Michael

[obrazell]

Assuming you have ST 3 3.2k then if you click on the observing list drop down and then export you can export it there in SkySafari format. The only caveat is that SkySafari must have the object in its database and with the same name as the format does not contain RA and Dec,

Owen

[theskyhound]

Hi Michael,

Its on the Observing List menu of the Nightly Planner. Select the Export Observing List menu item.

Regarding logs, it's simply not technically simple to support import/export via the open astronomy log "standard" the way it was written. The people who wrote it were not primarily astronomers. In the end, it only works well for more limited software. As an example, given the large numbers of catalog cross references that SkyTools supports, it would be very painful and time consuming to attempt to import/export objects formatted with designations they way they want. It could take me months. And in the end, there is no way to make certain that the object you log on one app will be the same one you get in another. To me that is a deal breaker. The primary developer did not think it mattered. Given all this, and with cheap Windows tablets available that work great in the field, I naturally support using my own product rather than someone else's. I would rather put my efforts into making you no longer want to use other products. I hope that you will find that SkyTools 4 may make you no longer wish to use your phone or iPad or whatever you are using.

[ultradianguy]

Hi Michael,

Its on the Observing List menu of the Nightly Planner. Select the Export Observing List menu item.

Regarding logs, it's simply not technically simple to support import/export via the open astronomy log "standard" the way it was written. The people who wrote it were not primarily astronomers. In the end, it only works well for more limited software. As an example, given the large numbers of catalog cross references that SkyTools supports, it would be very painful and time consuming to attempt to import/export objects formatted with designations they way they want. It could take me months. And in the end, there is no way to make certain that the object you log on one app will be the same one you get in another. To me that is a deal breaker. The primary developer did not think it mattered. Given all this, and with cheap Windows tablets available that work great in the field, I naturally support using my own product rather than someone else's. I would rather put my efforts into making you no longer want to use other products. I hope that you will find that SkyTools 4 may make you no longer wish to use your phone or iPad or whatever you are using.

Greg - thanks for the fast response!  Yeah, I get that it would be a big job and I get that there are competing priorities in product development.  
Last I looked, the tablets were still pretty expensive and I already have a phone and an (old) ipad. But I'll have to take another look.  Anyway, good to know I can export lists.  I just assumed the export would be on one of the data tabs along with share, backup etc.  Never occurred to me to look on the list itself.  Thanks!

Look forward to seeing ST 4 Visual.  (Not doing any imaging yet -unless you consider using the Revolution Imager imaging, but I suspect  AP people don't.....   )